College football: Santa Rosa JC has eyes on state title

The Santa Rosa Junior College football team will be trying to bounce back from its first loss of the season when the Bear Cubs play host to Diablo Valley on Saturday. This past Saturday's loss, 34-21 at San Francisco City College, was the first blemish on the record, but hardly diminished the overall success this season's team has enjoyed.

Despite the loss, the Bear Cubs are ranked No. 2 in Northern California by the California Community College Athletic Association.

Known for its high-powered spread offense, SRJC has built its strong record on the back of a powerful defense, one that put together consecutive shutouts to start October and has given up an impressive per-game average of 11.1 points.

The goal remains the same for coach Lenny Wagner and his team - bringing the state championship back to Santa Rosa.

“We're trying to take everything with a game-by-game approach. We have a lot of work left to do and we can't let these pats on the back make us soft,” Wagner said.

“(The record) is nice,” said sophomore running back Ja'Narrick James, “but honestly, it means nothing to us until we win a championship. We are just trying to win each week and not focus on the past.”

The Bear Cubs are putting up impressive numbers on both sides of the ball.

“We feel like we have the No. 1 offense in the state going up against the No. 1 defense in the state every day in practice,” James said. “We push each other to the limit in practice and each day we improve against each other.”

A look at a handful of the Bear Cubs' highlights this season:

OFFENSIVE WEAPON

James is leading the team in rushing with 379 yards and four touchdowns in six games. James also catches the ball out of the backfield and is the Bear Cubs' kick returner, and is leading the team in all-purpose yards with 505.

“He does everything we ask him and he does it the right way,” Wagner said. “He does everything by the book.”

James brings another skill set to the Bear Cubs not isn't listed on the stat sheet: his leadership.

“It's not often that one of your best players is also your best leader and that's what we have with Ja'Narrick,” Wagner said. “Not only is he a vocal leader, but he also leads by example on the field.”

James' top performance might have been Oct. 15 in a downpour against Contra Costa, when he rushed for 92 yards and had 35 yards receiving.

HOOD TO JOHNSON

Sophomore quarterback Mitch Hood has more than 1,800 yards passing and 13 touchdowns this season, with almost half of them going to his favorite target, Analy grad Kerr Johnson, Jr.

Johnson is leading the team in receiving yardage (561) and touchdowns (6).

Johnson also ranks in the top five in all receiving categories in the Big Six conference. Johnson's former Analy teammate, James, isn't surprised that Johnson is leading the way in receiving for the Bear Cubs.

“It doesn't matter the team or the quarterback, but if Kerr Johnson, Jr. is in your receiving corps and not leading the team in targets, something is really wrong,” James said.

TWIN TERRORS

Identical twin cornerbacks Keilan and Keith Benjamin are turning the JC's secondary into a no-fly zone. Keith has two interceptions and Keilan three, with one of Keith's returned for a touchdown.

Wagner tries to take advantage of the Benjamin twins' elite skillset in game planning.

“They are high-energy guys that allow us to get really complex with our defense up front,” Wagner said. “Going into each week, we really don't have to worry about who they're covering; we just kind of cross them out.”

LINEBACKERS

The stout SRJC defense is built on its core of sophomore linebackers lead by middle linebacker Henry Stelzner.

Stelzner leads the team in tackles with 44 and also has a sack and an interception return for a touchdown.

Stelzner's partner in the middle, Presley Piliati, is second behind Stelzner in tackles and also had the game-sealing score off a fumble recovery in the Butte game.

Petaluma prospects Miles Gardea and Brendan White fill out the rest of SRJC's linebacking corps. Wagner said all four linebackers are playing “outstanding” football.